France Pavilion at EPCOT: Everything You Need to See, Eat, and Do
Explore the France Pavilion at EPCOT, including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, shows, characters, restaurants, pastries, shopping and more.
Estimated reading time: 27 minutes
The France Pavilion at EPCOT is one of those places where you can very easily lose track of time.
And honestly, that makes sense. Because compared to some of the other World Showcase pavilions, France has a LOT going on.
There is a ride. There are two different films. There are princesses. There are gorgeous gardens and architecture. There are shops. There is an absurd amount of food. And if you visit during one of EPCOT’s festivals, France somehow manages to add even more things to see and do.
Basically, France did not get the memo that World Showcase pavilions aren’t supposed to need their own touring plans. 😂
I have visited the France Pavilion many times over the years, and I still don’t think I’ve completely exhausted it. It’s one of the pavilions where you could spend 20 minutes, grab a pastry and move on—or spend a couple of hours without really trying.
Here’s everything you should look for when you visit the France Pavilion at EPCOT.
Where Is the France Pavilion at EPCOT?
The France Pavilion is located in World Showcase between the Morocco Pavilion and the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT.
That International Gateway location is worth remembering, especially if you’re staying at one of the EPCOT-area resorts or arriving via the Disney Skyliner. If you enter EPCOT through International Gateway, France is basically one of the first World Showcase pavilions you’ll encounter.
And France is bigger than it initially looks.
The original portion of the pavilion sits along the World Showcase promenade, but the expansion for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure added an entirely new area behind it. So don’t assume you’ve seen France just because you’ve walked past the gardens and Les Chefs de France.
There is quite a bit tucked back here.
France Is One of the Prettiest Pavilions in World Showcase
Before we get to Remy and princesses and pastries—and oh, we are definitely going to get to the pastries—take a minute to actually look around.
France is beautiful.
The pavilion is designed to evoke a romanticized version of Paris, with elegant buildings, wrought-iron details, manicured gardens, fountains and, of course, the Eiffel Tower rising in the distance.
No, you cannot actually walk to the Eiffel Tower. 😂
But Disney uses forced perspective to make the tower look farther away and larger than it really is, and it creates one of the most recognizable views in World Showcase.
The formal gardens are especially pretty, and this is another pavilion where I think it’s worth slowing down instead of treating the walkway as a highway between attractions.
France is lovely in the middle of the day, but I especially love it later in the afternoon and evening when the pavilion starts lighting up.
Ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
If you’re looking for the biggest attraction in the France Pavilion, this is it.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a family-friendly trackless ride that shrinks you down to the size of Remy and sends you scurrying through Gusteau’s restaurant.
And it’s ridiculously cute.
This is not a thrill ride. There aren’t big drops or roller coaster elements. Instead, your rat-shaped ride vehicle moves through oversized physical sets and large screens as Remy tries to avoid getting caught in the kitchen.
It’s fun, chaotic and very Disney.
The attraction is also one of the best reasons to walk all the way into the newer section of the France Pavilion. The little Parisian square surrounding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is adorable, and even if you’re not riding, it’s worth seeing.
Wait times for Remy can get long, so this is one attraction I would actually think strategically about rather than assuming you’ll casually jump in line when you reach France.
RELATED: Best Rides at EPCOT Ranked
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along shares the Palais du Cinéma with Impressions de France, and I have… mixed feelings about this one.
It’s cute. I don’t hate it. But I also don’t think it’s something you need to rearrange your EPCOT day to see.
The show takes the familiar Beauty and the Beast story and gives it a bit of a twist, with LeFou getting considerably more credit for bringing Belle and the Beast together than any of us realized back in 1991. And, of course, you get to sing along with some of the songs from the movie.
But if you’re only going to see one of the two shows in this theater, I would personally choose Impressions de France. I think it’s the much better experience, and I’m definitely not alone in preferring the classic film.
Impressions de France
One of the things I appreciate about this pavilion is that Disney didn’t completely eliminate the original France film when Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along arrived.
Impressions de France is the classic EPCOT film showcasing the landscapes, cities, architecture and culture of France.
And it feels very old-school EPCOT—in a good way.
There are no cartoon rats running through a kitchen. Nobody is asking you to sing along. It’s simply a beautiful film about France accompanied by classical music.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along and Impressions de France share the Palais du Cinéma, so you’ll want to check the current schedule in the My Disney Experience app to see when each one is showing.
I wouldn’t necessarily plan an entire EPCOT day around Impressions de France, but if the timing works, I think it’s worth seeing—especially if you have some nostalgia for the more educational side of EPCOT.
Look Around the Palais du Cinéma Before You Leave
Here’s another reason not to sprint straight in and out of the theater.
Look around.
There are displays inside featuring costumes and exhibits connected to French-inspired stories and entertainment. On one of my visits, I found beautiful costume displays tied to everything from Cinderella to opera.
This is exactly the kind of little EPCOT detail I love because it takes five minutes to look at, doesn’t require another line, and gives you something interesting to discover beyond the headline attractions.
World Showcase rewards nosiness.
I’m increasingly convinced this should be one of my official EPCOT touring rules. 😂
Meet Belle in the France Pavilion
France is also one of the best World Showcase pavilions for meeting Disney princesses.
Belle regularly meets guests in France, and this is such a perfect setting for her that it almost feels like she wandered straight out of the movie.
Depending on the current setup, you’ll typically find her outdoors in the pavilion area. Character schedules can change, so check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit rather than relying on a specific time you found online months ago.
And if Belle is important to your family, I would check those times earlier in the day. World Showcase character meets don’t necessarily run continuously from park opening until fireworks.
RELATED: Where to Meet Disney Princesses at Disney World
Meet Princess Aurora Too
Belle isn’t the only princess you may find in France.
Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty also regularly meets guests here, usually in the beautiful gazebo setting tucked into the pavilion.
This is one of my favorite princess-meeting locations in World Showcase because the setting actually feels special. You’re not simply standing in front of a generic character backdrop.
And Aurora’s pink dress against all that greenery?
Come on. Disney knew exactly what they were doing. 😂
If your kids—or you, because adults are allowed to meet princesses too—love Disney characters, France is definitely a pavilion where you should check the day’s character schedule before walking past.
Keep an Eye Out for Surprise Characters
And then sometimes EPCOT just hands you a random prince.
On one of my visits, I happened across Prince Phillip near the France Pavilion. This wasn’t a special ticketed event or something I had planned. He was just making one of those occasional pop-up character appearances that you sometimes stumble across at Disney World.
I would not go to the France Pavilion expecting to meet Prince Phillip. These kinds of appearances aren’t guaranteed, and characters can change.
But that’s exactly why I love encounters like this.
Keep your eyes open while you’re wandering World Showcase. Sometimes the things you didn’t put on the itinerary end up being some of the most fun.
Explore the Shops in the France Pavilion
France also has several shops worth poking your head into, especially if you enjoy perfume, beauty products, French gifts or browsing things that don’t necessarily have Mickey Mouse stamped across them.
And yes, there is plenty of Disney merchandise too.
But one thing I appreciate about shopping around World Showcase is that some of the stores still feel connected to the country they’re representing rather than simply being another Disney gift shop.
You can find French fragrances, cosmetics, wine and other specialty items around the pavilion.
I’m not necessarily coming to EPCOT to go on a French perfume shopping spree, but I do enjoy wandering through the stores.
Also: air conditioning.
Never underestimate the strategic importance of a World Showcase shop in August. 😂
Take Your Time in the Newer Ratatouille Area
Don’t make the mistake of riding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and immediately leaving.
The expanded section of the pavilion is genuinely charming.
There are little storefronts, fountains, signs, café tables and architectural details that make the area feel different from the original section of France without feeling disconnected from it.
It’s also one of those Disney areas where the details work better when you’re not rushing.
Look up at the buildings. Wander around the fountain. Take pictures. Pretend for five minutes that you’re in Paris instead of Central Florida while trying not to think about the humidity.
You know. Disney magic. 😂
Stop at the Kidcot Fun Stop
Like the other World Showcase pavilions, France has a Kidcot Fun Stop where kids can collect an activity card and add another country to their trip around EPCOT.
Kidcot is easy to overlook when there are rides and princesses competing for everyone’s attention, but I still think it’s a fun way to give kids a reason to interact with World Showcase instead of simply being dragged from one adult food stop to another.
If you’re trying to get your kids interested in exploring all of the countries, definitely pick up the Kidcot cards as you go.
France Is a Pavilion Where You Should Plan to Linger
This is really what separates France from some of the other World Showcase pavilions.
You don’t have to manufacture reasons to spend time here.
There’s Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. There are two films. There are princesses. There are gardens and shops. There are little exhibits and details worth discovering.
And we haven’t even talked about the food yet.
Which is frankly ridiculous.
Because once you add Les Halles, crêpes, ice cream, multiple table-service restaurants and approximately eleven billion French pastries into the equation, France becomes one of the easiest places in World Showcase to accidentally spend a couple of hours.
And that is exactly where we’re headed next.
Because basically: France would like to feed you. 😂
Where to Eat in the France Pavilion at EPCOT
If the first half of this guide made the France Pavilion sound busy, we haven’t even gotten to the food yet.
And this is where France really shows off.
You can have a full table-service meal. Or grab a crêpe. You can get ice cream and then pick up a baguette. Or you can stare into a pastry case and make increasingly irresponsible decisions.
Basically, you could spend an entire afternoon eating your way through this pavilion and I would completely understand your life choices. 😂
There are several different places to eat in France, and they fill very different niches.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie Is One of My Favorite EPCOT Food Stops
Let’s start with the important one.
I LOVE Les Halles.
This is one of those places I will happily visit whether I’m looking for breakfast, lunch, a snack, dessert or apparently just an excuse to buy bread.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie is tucked toward the back of the original France Pavilion, which means it is surprisingly easy to walk past if you don’t know it’s there.
Do not do that.
Walk back there.
Once you’re inside, you’ll find a long display case filled with sandwiches, quiches, breads, pastries and desserts. There are enough choices that I routinely have trouble deciding what I actually want.
This is also one of the places where France feels less like “theme park food” to me. You can grab something relatively simple like a baguette or sandwich, or completely abandon moderation and start pointing at pastries.
Both are valid EPCOT strategies. 😂
Yes, You Can Basically Just Buy a Baguette
I feel like this deserves its own mention because it makes me happy.
You can walk into Les Halles and buy a baguette.
Just… a baguette.
And there is something incredibly satisfying about wandering around EPCOT carrying a giant loaf of French bread like you have errands to run in a small village outside Paris.
It’s also a relatively simple snack if you’ve reached the point in your Disney trip where your stomach is begging you to stop feeding it cupcakes shaped like cartoon characters.
Sometimes bread is exactly what you need.
The Pastries at Les Halles Are Dangerous
Then there are the desserts.
This is where all of my sensible baguette talk falls apart. 😂
The pastry case at Les Halles is fantastic.
I’ve tried several different desserts here over the years, and this is one of those places where I am very comfortable choosing something simply because it looks good.
Macarons. Fruit tarts. Chocolate desserts. Cream-filled pastries.
Pick your weakness.
I particularly love that this isn’t a one-famous-snack location. There isn’t one single item that everybody needs to order or they have somehow failed EPCOT.
Look at the case.
See what speaks to you.
Then eat that.
This is advanced Disney planning advice. 😂
L’Artisan des Glaces Is Another Excellent Stop
As if the bakery weren’t enough, France also has an ice cream shop.
L’Artisan des Glaces serves French-style ice cream and sorbet in a variety of flavors, and this is another France Pavilion stop that I think is genuinely worth seeking out.
Especially because Florida.
There are plenty of places around Disney World to get frozen desserts, but I like that L’Artisan des Glaces feels distinctive to the pavilion rather than like another generic ice cream counter.
If everyone in your family wants something different, this entire back section of France is particularly useful. Someone can grab a pastry. Someone else can get ice cream. Someone can buy a baguette and pretend they’re starring in Beauty and the Beast.
Everybody wins.
Crêpes Are Basically Their Own Food Group Here
The Ratatouille expansion brought even more food into France because apparently Disney looked at the existing bakery, ice cream shop and restaurants and thought:
Needs crêpes.
Fair enough. 😂
There are both quick-service and table-service crêpe options tucked back near Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris
If you just want a crêpe without committing to a sit-down meal, the walk-up window is the easy option.
You’ll generally find both savory and sweet crêpes here, which means this can work as either an actual meal or dessert.
Or both.
I’m not judging.
This is particularly convenient if you’re already heading back to ride Remy because you don’t have to leave that section of the pavilion to find something to eat.
La Crêperie de Paris
In the same location, La Crêperie de Paris is the table-service version.
The menu centers around traditional French crêpes and savory buckwheat galettes, so this is a more substantial option if you want to sit down rather than grab something from the window.
I wouldn’t necessarily choose it over every other restaurant in EPCOT simply because I’m in France, but I love that the pavilion has so many different levels of dining.
You don’t have to commit to one expensive table-service meal to experience French food here.
Chefs de France Is the Classic France Pavilion Restaurant
Chefs de France is probably the restaurant most people picture when they think about sitting down for a meal in the France Pavilion.
It’s right along the main World Showcase promenade, with those huge windows looking out toward the pavilion.
And I have somehow still never eaten there.
😂
So I’m not going to pretend to review it.
But Chefs de France serves classic French-inspired dishes in a brasserie-style setting, and it remains one of the major table-service options in the pavilion.
I absolutely think it’s worth considering if the menu appeals to you, particularly if you want a traditional sit-down meal without going all the way into Disney fine-dining territory.
It’s on my eventual list.
There are simply too many EPCOT restaurants and only so many meals I can physically eat.
This is a serious occupational hazard.
Monsieur Paul Is the Splurge Option
And then France says, “Would you like to spend considerably more money?”
Hello, Monsieur Paul. 😂
Monsieur Paul is the elevated dining option in the France Pavilion, located upstairs above Chefs de France.
This is not the place I’m choosing when I want to grab a pastry and continue wandering World Showcase. It’s intended to be a much more refined, leisurely French dining experience.
And that’s great if that’s what you’re looking for.
For me personally, EPCOT has so many excellent restaurants that I tend to prioritize places that fit the way I actually like to eat at Disney. But if you’re celebrating something special, love French cuisine or specifically want a higher-end meal, Monsieur Paul gives France an option at that end of the spectrum too.
Check the current menu and pricing before making a reservation, because this is definitely one where you’ll want to know what you’re signing up for.
How Much Time Should You Spend in the France Pavilion?
This is a surprisingly difficult question because France can be either a quick stop or practically half your afternoon.
If you are simply walking through, taking some pictures and grabbing a pastry, you could probably spend 20–30 minutes here.
But that’s barely scratching the surface.
Add Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and you’re dealing with whatever the current wait time happens to be. Add Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along or Impressions de France. Add a Belle or Aurora meet. Add shopping. Add lunch.
Suddenly you’ve been in France for two hours.
I don’t think you necessarily need to schedule a giant block of “France time,” but I would be careful about stacking too many plans immediately after visiting this pavilion.
France is one of the easiest places in World Showcase to linger much longer than you intended.
Is the France Pavilion Good for Kids?
Absolutely.
In fact, I think France is one of the easiest World Showcase pavilions to sell to kids.
You’ve got Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which is an obvious draw.
You’ve got Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along.
Belle.
Aurora.
Crêpes.
Ice cream.
Pastries.
At this point France is barely making us work for it. 😂
Younger kids can also stop at Kidcot, while older kids and teens may be more interested in the food, shopping and simply exploring.
And because there are actual attractions here—not just restaurants and architecture—France is a great pavilion for families who are worried their kids won’t enjoy World Showcase.
Is the France Pavilion Worth Visiting Without Kids?
Oh goodness, yes.
I might actually enjoy France even more on an adults-only EPCOT day because you can slow everything down.
Get a pastry.
Wander through the gardens.
Watch Impressions de France.
Browse the shops.
Have a glass of wine.
Eat a long dinner.
Get ice cream afterward because apparently dinner was insufficient. 😂
France works really well for the version of EPCOT where you aren’t trying to accomplish every attraction as efficiently as possible.
It’s a lovely place to just hang out.
What Should You Absolutely Not Miss in the France Pavilion?
If this is your first visit, I would prioritize three things.
Ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
That’s the obvious headline attraction and one of the biggest family rides in World Showcase.
Actually explore the pavilion.
Don’t ride Remy and leave. Walk through the original France area. See the gardens. Look for the Eiffel Tower. Check out the shops and theater area.
And finally:
Eat something.
Seriously.
I don’t even care what.
A crêpe. Ice cream. A baguette. A macaron. A giant strawberry tart. An entire sit-down French meal.
It feels borderline irresponsible to visit the France Pavilion and not let France feed you something. 😂
Is the France Pavilion Worth Visiting?
Very much so.
Actually, the more I think about everything that’s here, the more I think France is one of the most complete pavilions in World Showcase.
It has something many of the other pavilions don’t: depth.
There’s a major ride, but France isn’t just Remy.
There are character meets, but France isn’t just princesses.
There are restaurants, but France isn’t just food.
There are films, gardens, architecture, shopping and small details layered throughout the pavilion.
You can experience France at whatever level fits your EPCOT day.
Race in, ride Remy and race back out if that’s all you have time for.
But if you give France an hour or two?
It can absolutely fill it.
And then there are the festivals.
Because apparently France looked at everything I just listed and decided it still wasn’t contributing enough. 😂
France During EPCOT Festivals
France is one of the World Showcase pavilions that really benefits from EPCOT’s festival calendar.
And since EPCOT spends a significant portion of the year in festival mode, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll encounter something extra here.
France During the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
Festival of the Arts already feels particularly at home in France.
You’ve got Parisian architecture, the gardens, the Eiffel Tower and all that romantic French atmosphere—and then Disney starts adding visual art throughout EPCOT.
I’ve seen some really fun festival art and photo opportunities around this area, and France is one of those pavilions where the festival aesthetic just works.
If Festival of the Arts is happening during your trip, don’t rush through France on your way to Remy. Look around for the temporary artwork and festival additions too.
RELATED: EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Guide
France During the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
France is gorgeous during Flower & Garden.
The pavilion already has beautiful landscaping, so adding festival flowers and topiaries feels almost unfair.
The Beauty and the Beast topiaries are especially perfect here. Belle and Beast in the France Pavilion during a festival dedicated to elaborate gardens and topiary displays?
Yes.
Obviously. 😂
France also traditionally gets festival food offerings during Flower & Garden, so check the current festival menus before your visit.
RELATED: EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Guide
RELATED: EPCOT Flower & Garden Topiary Guide
France During the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Come on.
It’s France.
At the Food & Wine Festival.
😂
This is one of the World Showcase countries where the festival theme feels particularly obvious, and France traditionally has additional festival food and beverage offerings on top of the approximately 4,000 permanent things you can already eat here.
This is also why I wouldn’t necessarily walk into France and immediately buy the first thing you see during Food & Wine.
Look at your options first.
You have festival dishes competing against Les Halles, L’Artisan des Glaces, crêpes and multiple restaurants.
These are difficult problems.
RELATED: EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Guide
France During the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
And this may be my favorite seasonal addition in France.
During Festival of the Holidays, France traditionally hosts Père Noël, the French version of Father Christmas, as part of EPCOT’s holiday storyteller programming.
I LOVE these.
One of my favorite things about Festival of the Holidays is getting to hear the different Christmas traditions represented around World Showcase, and Père Noël fits beautifully into the France Pavilion.
This is exactly the kind of EPCOT experience I think people miss when they focus exclusively on rides and food booths.
Stop.
Listen to the story.
Enjoy Christmas in France for a few minutes.
Then go buy a pastry.
I mean, we still have priorities. 😂
RELATED: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Guide
Final Thoughts on the France Pavilion at EPCOT
I knew I liked the France Pavilion before writing this guide.
I’m not sure I fully appreciated just how much Disney packed into it.
France isn’t one of those World Showcase pavilions where I have to convince you to wander around because there’s secretly more to see.
The more obvious problem here is figuring out how much of it you can reasonably fit into one EPCOT day.
Remy. Beauty and the Beast. Impressions de France. Belle. Aurora. Gardens. Shopping. Kidcot. Crêpes. Ice cream. Les Halles. Multiple restaurants.
And then EPCOT throws a festival on top of it.
France doesn’t need a ride to justify spending time here.
But it has one anyway. 😂
That’s what makes the France Pavilion one of the best all-around pavilions in World Showcase—and one I would absolutely make time for on your EPCOT day.
Explore Every EPCOT World Showcase Pavilion
Want to keep exploring? World Showcase has 11 country pavilions, and every one of them is worth experiencing for a different reason. Some have rides and major attractions, while others are all about the food, characters, entertainment, shopping, or simply wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere.
Start with my complete guide to EPCOT World Showcase, or jump directly to any of the individual pavilion guides below:
- Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT
- Norway Pavilion at EPCOT
- China Pavilion at EPCOT
- Germany Pavilion at EPCOT
- Italy Pavilion at EPCOT
- The American Adventure at EPCOT
- Japan Pavilion at EPCOT
- Morocco Pavilion at EPCOT
- UK Pavilion at EPCOT
- Canada Pavilion at EPCOT
Whether you’re trying to see everything in World Showcase or just deciding which pavilions deserve the most time on your next EPCOT day, these guides will help you figure out what you absolutely don’t want to miss.
